Hello from Perth, Western Australia

[Martin Clarke]

Hello to all Fellow Members,

I have recently joined your Group, and would like to introduce myself. I was born in India, and migrated to Perth, Western Australia in 2004.
I have an avid interest in outdoor activities, mainly hunting. I have had a good run hunting in India - large game & small game, including waterfowl.

Unfortunately, due to the ban (around 1992) I had to give up my passion. My father, a WW2 decorated soldier, was also a keen shikari, and I accompanied him on shikar outings from the age of nine. He owned - .416 by Rigby, .303 sporterised, .250/3000 - Savage 99, .22 Rifle by Winchester (model 60A) single shot, and a 12 gauge shotgun (early IOF-BSA copy). After he passed away in 1982, my brothers & I inherited the weapons he did not dispose of - Shotgun, .250/3000 and the .22. The 416 & 303 were disposed of before we were of legal age to own, due to ammunition availability & constraints. I opted for the .22 Winchester, as I felt it was a rifle I could use without feeling the pinch of ammo costs in India.

When I licensed the .22 rifle, I got a shock when I went to take possession from the local gun dealer where it was deposited. They had removed the original sights, and had replaced them with crude locally made ones. I had a lot of trouble with the sights, and finally got rid of it, to replace it with a Remington 581, which I scoped with a 4X Leopold Rimfire Special. In 1991 when I took possession, it was missing the magazine - my sister got a replacement for me from Australia, and a good friend got a second one from the US. This was a superbly accurate rifle, and I wish I had kept it.
I also had a Baikal 12 G over and under. Both my weapons were sold to good friends before I left India, so I can get to see them when I go back.

I now have a collection of 5 rifles and a shotgun - details:
1) .22 LR by CZ - Model 452E (Varmint) Heavy barrel - scoped with a 6-24 Tasco (Japanese), for Target & Rabbits
2) .223 rifle by Swiss Arms - Model SHR970 - scoped with a 4.5-16 Bushnell (with BDC), for Target, Foxes, Feral Cats & Wild dogs
3) .270 rifle by Kimber - Model 8400 - scoped with a 5-18 Leopold for Deer, Pigs and Wild dogs over 250M
4) .375 H&H Magnum by CZ - Model 550 - scoped with Leopold Rifleman - 3-9 - For Water Buffalo in the Northern Territory, also for pigs
5) .44 Magnum by Marlin - Model 1894 - scoped with my old 4X Rimfire Special from India - for Pigs in thick bush
6) 12G Over & Under by Lanber - Model 2097 with 3" chambers - for Rabbits on the run & pest birds at Orchards - also for pigs, close shots

I intend going in for another rifle - .22 WMR by Anschutz - in very good condition - when the owner decides to sell. Hardly fired 200 shots.
This will be my first second hand purchase in Australia - all the others listed above were bought new, but this one is a cracker!!.
I look forward to interacting with all of you, and wish you the best in your sport pursuits - please keep safe at all times.

Regards...……….Martin Clarke
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[Vikram]

Hello, Martin, Welcome to IFG.

Very interesting intro. Good to hear you are able to indulge in your passion and carry on in Australia. We have a couple of IFG members in Australia. Do post your guns' photos if you wish.

[sumbriavikramaditya]

Mr. Clarke, you are living the life which I can only dream of.

I follow this channel on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs3sYk ... 95EniC-uMw. He also from Australia. I like his long range target shooting techniques.

I own an IOF .30-06 Rifle. Thats all I can get in India with my budget. I have attached a Vortex Diamondback 4-12x 40mm BDC Scope to it.

Please tell us about latest update on Guns Laws in Australia. I read about them. What are your views? We would like to know about them too.

Regards
Vikramaditya Singh.

[Martin Clarke]

Hi Vikram & Vikramaditya,
Pleased to hear from both of you. Vikram, I will post some photos of my weapons at a later date. I doubt I would have migrated if I could not pursue my passion for shooting. Target shooting was a new aspect, and I enjoy it tremendously now. I handload all my ammo now, .223, .270, .375 & 44Mag - very rewarding when you get the correct load and accuracy. I prefer accuracy over speed. Mainly use Norma/RWS brass, and a variety of projectiles to suit end use. For .22LR I mainly use Eley HV HP, and RWS HV Solids. For target shooting I use RWS R100 - expensive, but worth every cent, as my 22 loves them. Must mention here, Australia manufactures some of the best propellants in the world, with regular exports to USA, New Zealand, Canada and Europe, for hunting and military purpose.
Vikramaditya - I see you are located in J&K, a picturesque and beautiful part of India, also known as the Switzerland of Asia.
Pleased to know you own an IOF 30-06 with a Vortex scope - by all reports I hear this is a good rifle, very accurate.
The gun laws in Australia are still quite OK, when compared to India. As long as prove you have a genuine need and a genuine reason, licensing is normally completed in 30 to 45 days - and your licence is sent by mail, with no need to follow up. Best thing is there is no Red Tape. Semi-Autos are banned - only professional vermin hunters can own them. Most often they are licensed to Farm owners, and cannot be taken off the property. Surprisingly, one can license a Pump Action Rifle, but you cannot license a Pump Action Shotgun.
One can also apply for a Collectors licence, enabling you to collect weapons and ammunition - much easier than hunting/target shooting license.
I must add, though, that recently there has been a surge in people applying for .50 calibre, .416 Barrett and .338 Lapua Mag rifles, for extended long range shooting, but police are clamping down on these calibres, due to obvious reasons. There are many long range shooting ranges in Australia, and people use them extensively - very expensive though! Will keep in touch later.
Best Regards to both of you...…Martin Clarke

[Chengy]

Hi Martin,
Welcome to this wonderful forum. Remember your dad very well. Lot of time was spent with him during my teenage years learning all about wildlife and shooting as well as handling those lovely weapons. Fond memories of trips to Beri with your dad and us boys. Keep the posts coming. In case the mists of time have dimmed your memory, I'm Arun, who used to hang out with your younger bro, Colin. BTW what finally happened to that .250/3000. It was a cracker of a weapon in immaculate condition.

[Prabhath]

Welcome aboard Martin. Asking out of curiosity........you have mentioned that you own a CZ 452E in .22LR. Did you check out the Lithgowarms crossover rifle before you bought the CZ. The LA 101 is supposedly a very well built rifle and Aussie made too......

[Martin Clarke]

Hi Martin,
Welcome to this wonderful forum. Remember your dad very well. Lot of time was spent with him during my teenage years learning all about wildlife and shooting as well as handling those lovely weapons. Fond memories of trips to Beri with your dad and us boys. Keep the posts coming. In case the mists of time have dimmed your memory, I'm Arun, who used to hang out with your younger bro, Colin. BTW what finally happened to that .250/3000. It was a cracker of a weapon in immaculate condition.

Hi Arun,
Yes I do remember you; the mists of time have not blurred my memory. How can I forget those wonderful years, both with my father and friends.
Did you accompany us to Beri and bring along a Mauser (8mm or 7.92mm)?? I remember firing it and missed a close shot - was more concerned about the recoil than the target. Collin, Vijay, Tyrone and Craig always spoke about the good times they had with you. Dad's .250/3000 was "acquired" by my elder brother; unfortunately he disposed of it for a song, in spite of my insisting not to. Agree, it was a beautiful rifle, in very good condition and extremely accurate. I remember using it during a drive (haka) and got two Nilgais on the run, during the days when hunting permits we issued.
Do you own weapons presently. Let me know and please keep in touch.
Regards.....Martin

[Martin Clarke]

Welcome aboard Martin. Asking out of curiosity........you have mentioned that you own a CZ 452E in .22LR. Did you check out the Lithgowarms crossover rifle before you bought the CZ. The LA 101 is supposedly a very well built rifle and Aussie made too......

Hello Prabath,
I bought my CZ452E Varmint in 2006, well before the Lithgow LA101 was introduced, around 2013/2014. The old Lithgow .22 rifles were discontinued around the 1980s (I think). Presently they are also manufacturing .22, .223, .243, & 308. All their rifles are very well made, and extremely accurate out of the box. I have seen many of them on the shooting range - they seem to very popular now, obviously due to build and accuracy. All the modern Lithgow rifles I have seen have stainless barrels, with either wood or synthetic stocks.
All BRNOs & my CZ, as you would know, is based on the old Mauser 22 action - very robust, feeds perfectly and extremely accurate, and I am very satisfied with it. I have put around 5000 rounds through it (mainly target shooting) and it operates flawlessly. I have 2 x 5 shot and 2 x 10 shot magazines, which help when shooting rabbits, and also for rapid firing competition on the range.
Regards...…Martin Clarke

[Jr.]

Welcome to the Forum Martin.
Those were the days,
When Wild Game was available in plenty within India.
Unfortunately poaching has caused a large scale decline.
The Forest Guards are very poorly paid and equipped.
Though there has been a resurgence in the numbers.
If the Forests are left alone,
There will be a rapid growth in wildlife once again.

Regards,
Jr.

[Martin Clarke]

Hi Jr.,
Thank you for your welcome and your thoughts. Yes, those were the days, when wild game was plentiful, and the forests had their own charm.
Unfortunately, mismanagement and poaching has led to decline in numbers, except for wild boar and nilgai - I understand they are a big problem for farmers all over North India Plains. Lack of management leads to growth in their population. In many countries, even though number of species and populations are much less than in India, they still manage to survive because of research and proper management, by protecting their habitat and allowing regulated hunting. India still has the proper habitat, but unchecked poaching and forest clearing has contributed to the present state of affairs. I remember my father saying that when licensed hunters spent time in the forests, poachers stayed away. Unfortunately, it is the other way around now - no more hunters in the forests, and poachers having a field day. It is the same with waterfowl - hunting banned, but netting, trapping and snaring continues.
Regards....Martin Clarke

[Prabhath]

Hello Martin,

Thanks a ton for the rep;y. Was generally curious and so went ahead and asked you. Cheers........

[sumbriavikramaditya]

I remember my father saying that when licensed hunters spent time in the forests, poachers stayed away. Unfortunately, it is the other way around now - no more hunters in the forests, and poachers having a field day.

Thats a fact. Unlicensed hunters (Not all are poachers) are roaming in the forests of India. I would say even the Forest officials are also involved at most the places.

[mundaire]

Welcome aboard Martin, hope you enjoy your stay here
Cheers!
Abhijeet

[Shivaji.Dasgupta]

Welcome Martin

[russianshooter3]

Welcome